Flying-machine.



W. A. HUTSON. FLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION rum) MAY 15, 1913.

Patented Feb. 24, 1914.

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Svwwtoz wiwlmemo W; A. HUTSON.

FLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED HAY 15, 1913.

1 ,087,946. Patented Feb. 24, 1914.

3 SHEBTS-SHEET 3.

Elwuomtoaa W. A.Hu Ts a N am/imam n. Terrie i r hl Ehi l ()PFFICE.

YVILLILMEA' it. Hi"

MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF FLYIN'G-IVZACHINE.

It add it, ti i tt.

implication filed May 15. 1913.

To all w/mm it may concern Be it known that l', ld 'irmui A. :i'lU'lSUN, constructions,

citizen of the i 'nited States. resiijling' at hiansas titv, in the count ofilackson and State of lllissouri. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flying-Mm chines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to flying machines and more particularly to a machine of that type commonly known in the art as *dii'igible. the invention having for its primary object. to provide improvei'l means for preventingheatingr and undue expansion of the gas through the medium of which the desired buoyancy in machines of this character is obtained.

The invention has for another object the provision of improved propellers arranged upon opposite sides of the machine whereby a maximum of air. is displaced and the speed of movement of the machine materially ac; celerated. and means for independently con trolling and positioning said propellers with respect to the body of the machine.

.Z-iinothc" invention resides in the ton wneel including retaining: means for independently inflatable and reu'iovable sections or compartments. and means for constantly rotating said wheel to prevent overheating of the gas contained in said compartments and to reduce air resistance to a minimum.

lit is a further object of my invention to provide side propellers. front and rear rud ders, and a central rotatablv mounted wheel provided with Y'QlllUVtlblQ inflatable hairs. primary operating means. and means for independently connecting the propellers and rudders to said operating means to be actuated thereby or disconnecting the same from the operating means for operation by the natural air currents.

The invention further provision in a machine of this character of means for obtaining a maxinuim of buoyancy with a minimum face, and to so construct the machine that the same wi l be. light in weight, and may be easily and quickly repaired at a nominal coat. i

Ylith the aboveand other objects in view as Will become apparent as the description and more specific object of the provision of a skclccomrn'ehends the Specification of Letters Patent.

I l l l l l l l of air resisting suratent-ed Feb. 24%, 1914. serial No. 767,852.

proceeds,- the invention consists in certain combinations and arrangements of the parts that 1 shall hereinafter t'uily describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in whioh'- Figure l is a side ele *ation of a flying machine embodying the present invention: fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the rudders. Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4% of Fig. 3: Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view illustrating the. operating, and controlling means for the rudders and propellers; Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the gearing for operating the main wheel which carries the inflatable compartments. Fi t. 7 is a detail section taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 5: Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of one of the removable gas bags or compartmcnts.

Referring in detail to the drawings. 5 designates the body frame of the machine. preferably. though not necessarily. constructed of aluminum, which ma v-be braced in any approved manner. This frame is centrally provided with an operators platform 3 and beneath each end of the frai'ne. the wheels 7 are mounted. It will of course be obvious that if desired. in place of the wheels. the usual skids o'r runners may be used.

ti designates the upper longitudinal bars of the frame structure in which the ends of a centrallvarranged transverse shaft 9 are fixed. l pon this shaft the hollow tubular hub 10 of a wheel is mounted to rotate. bearing balls or other suitable anti-friction means being arranged between said hub and the shaft. The wheel structure cmbodies an annular rim ll. Oppositely inclined skeleton side frames 12 connect this rim to the ends of the tubular shaft 10. These skeleton frames may be of any approved form ciconstruction and between the same the inflatable gas bag sections 13 are adapted to be arranged Each of these sections is of substantially quadrant form as shown in Fig. .and when inits collapsed conditiomnnrv be rcadil; disposed between the skeleton side frames 12 of the wheel. Each of the gas hag sections is provided with a suitable inflating valve 14 to which one end of the body of the machine or a rubber tube or hose is connected, the l which being attached to riphera is provided with a 'pcripl'ieral groove 16 to receive a cable 17. This cable extends around guide pulleys 18 mounted in hanger brackets depending from the hlatforin (3. A shaft 19 is also mounted beneath said platform having a pulley 20 fixed thereon over which the cable 17 extends. A gear Wheel 21 is fixed upon said shaft with which a gear Wheel 22 on the lower end of the vr-r tical shaft 23 meshes. fhrough the medium otthese intcrmeshing gears. it will be ohvious that the gas ha; carrying wheel may be rotated The shaft 23 is driven by means of an engine or other prime mover which may be of any approvod form. a beveled pinion 25 on the engine shaft moshing with a beveled 26 upon the vertical shaft 23. T he pinion 25 is keyed for sliding movement upon the engine shaft and may be shifted into or out of engagement with the gearv 26 by means of the lever 27.

In each side of the main frame 5, cantrally thereof, provision is made for the main driving propeller. Each of these propellers consists of a hollow elliptical body 28 which is provided with longitudinally extending spindles or stub shafts 29 at its opposite ends. The major axis of the hollow propeller member '28 is disposed vertically and the spindle 29 on the upper end thereof is mounted to rotate in a depending hanger bearing 30 which is fixed to the longitudinal bar 8 of the machine frame. The spindle 29 on the lower end of said propeller member is seated in a step bearing 31 which is suitably mounted in tho frame 5.

designates a which extends in substantially concentric relation to the hollow propeller uici'nbcr and at its ends. loosely engaged upon the terminal spindles 29 of said member. in the fame 32. centrally thereof a, fan blade propeller '33 is'inounted. A pinion Il l'upon the shaft o'i said propcllcr uu shcs' with the pinion 35 fixed to tho vertical shaft Ill) whichis arranged in tho frame member The lower end of this shaft is mounted in a bearing arm 37 pr jottin l from the lower end of said frame member. The haft 336 is provided with n sprocket. whorl which is traversed by an cmilcss chain -S said chain extending around a similar sprocket wheel on the l wer spii'idlo 29 of the propeller mcnihcr 2d. The elliptical propeller membcr 28 is provided with longitudinally extending peripheral vanes in: widest at the center of gradually taper to tho culls thereof.

ho lownr mid of tho .i'ainc member s id member and or blades i-lfl which curved frame nicmlicri propeller 33 is mounted, a peegroov d wheel -l0 is fixed. Around this wheel onev end of a. cord or cable ll passes, said cable extending over a suitable guide pulley 42 and around a drum 43 mounted to rotate upon the supporting shaft ll.

the lly The drum 43 is provided upon one end with a suitable hand wheel 45 whereby the same may be conveniently rotated to swing" the fan propeller and position the same with relation to the main propellin g member '28, as will be understood.

As above stated. one'of the driving propellcrs such as above described is mountcd in each side of the machine frame and these propellers may be independently driven by moans oi" the endless driving chains it) which connect the sprocket wheel upon the lower spindle of each of the propelling members to similar sprocket wheels loosely mounted upon the upper end of the vertical shaft 23. At each end of the main frame a pair of looped bars 47 are arranged, said bars being disposed in parallel relation and having their ends integrally connected, and formed with the arms 48 which are mounted to rotate in bearing members 49 provided upon the main frame 5. The looped rods or bars 47 are vertically disposed and the depending arms 48 thereof are hollow to receive the. upper ends of the vcrticalshaits 50, the lower ends of which are connected by means of the sprocket chains 51 to the main driring shaft.23. In the parallel loopcd bars 47 and connectmg the same a stationary shaftis arranged. L beycled gear 53 is rotatably mounted upon said shaft. This gear engages a pinion 54 fixed upon the propeller shaft which is mounted in bearings 56 provided upon the side of a disk or wheel 5? loosely arranged upon the shaft 52.

7:8 designates thc 'ian blade propeller which is fixed upon one cud of the shaft k rope or cable filltravcrscs the whcel Til and extends around suitable guide pulleys (30 to a drum (Bl which is mountcd and opcrated in ii similar manner to the drum 43. Upon one of the looped bars 47. a sheet of canv'as.

rul'ilocr or other material indicated at 75 is 7 shaft 44. 'Each oi the drums on this shot:

is provided with a brake hand 67 normally hold in frictional i-nsza cment therewith lov a drum 66' mounted on the.

means of a coil spring 68. A fool $9 is connected to said brake band whereby the drum may be released at the W111 of the operaior. I

It W111 be seen from. the above that the control of the machine is by means of six clutch member actuated by the operator by means of a lever fnlcrmncd intermediate of its ends upon the frame structure. I

From the foregoing description, the construction and manner of operation of my improved flying machine will be clearly understood. The inflatable 13 are arranged in the skeieton Wheel and are properly inflated, lime sirie 'f1ZilYlE.S of said Wheel premnl'ing; undue exponsimi of the bags and rel'ninii'ig the give the rcipiireii insoyancjfllio the mm (Thine no that it; will rise from the groilml. The front-21nd rear pro ellers :n; \Ylli 1 side PZU-PBiljlf-i snug: l' driven lw s iZHi the clutch nn'm'ilnrin a i pinion 95 on th engine sin-2ft Wheel 52o on the driving ehn'li1 2 .i'hc Wheel in which Elm im iulzmie compzn'tnnii'x rnngeil coniiiniously rolnlrf (hiring the 5 1 operation of the machine :n'nl diamond shaped cross: Wheel, it Will he obvious thin hut i'ii'iie resistnncre is offered ii'icreby to (he forwzmi mo veinrnt of of the grass whi incident to such in would he (illlhifll in; 'i rici'il'in roarhino: 1S

bags or conipz'zrlmenis same in place. These l l l l l i i i I l l i l l l'he i'nzwliinr. while din limiting I T n'nn'oii win-n obi/mind.

Tlme: liability of ihe expioieion oi the gas 5 ronlaineil in the huge or (l)Uljfiil'i'lllfilltig is vliminnijeil. The Wheel minim l'orwnriiiy or in the direction of liigrl'il oi the mnrhino no inrlioniml hy 'ihe arrow in l ig: l lmckn'arilly driven Hi! from the Finn-:12"

While line propeller 3S cools lilo \Vfli oi' i510 one bag or comyartn'lenl's an inn are iwri rosm'oiy brought in :1 forward position This Enron rotntil'ig when] also imws;

warvlly (luring the forward nmveninnf oi the machine and or-r-nsimm: lifting? impulse. lfiy mounting Hie infiralniiio img's in :1 runner lJiC Wheel in ihr: nmnnnr l :imvr riireolwmi,

in Hie oiwioi or from his 'p rw'iiion in machine or Nunvplml Will} gas; i non saw. it will i'mihor he ol'nzou v rirlc 'no mllrrs .15, are :iifn'en, iii-f polling member 28 is iilistributed over :1 compzrznively wide area and n, iargc amount of air iiisplzlcrrl thereby. This air directell iownnl the inflatable bag sections mounted in tho rotatable WllCOl and "further serves to cool the some as Well as giving an upward impnlee to the body oi, the machine owing to the fact that the propelling nembere are loomed below the axis of the bag carrying Wheel. Vihen it is rlosircd to rhange the course of the n'mciiine. theopcrator may swing either of he propellers 33 by means of the rubles 41 and thereby CHLIISG the nnr chino to more laterally, said propellers ltiSlSCil'lQ, the front and rear propellers in effecting a quick turning movement. In order to rinse or lower the n'mrhine the operator,

enzl of ihe machine u 'm'ardly or downwuriii v the rrr may he. The machine is of co: or turned in; which the cables: the natm'ni nit.

in are connected. When currents are of sufficient strong H1, l'ln: clutches 7; may be shifted to disconnect the driv' lg chains from the shaft 23. The extensive air: rmn'nci'ing' surface oi the hlnrle or Y u: of the main side propellers i 1 on anis moon by he miiicicni to a in i'ngzhhinns the Hie in-'1 pr IUHHHLLI the mini opens h no r; r in .i 'rnn'i tin} foreggo: in}. nonsi'rmtioo in in a chin e nii ll ".lhc inveniion comm-notion i i,

I and surely opr-rrn'eiih he ii'iileponrlenily remom or orimpnrtnlonts ,q'renliy r prose im-ii'lcnc to repair oi? the these rings nniy he easi y and iorn or oilmn" and new ones in'oriileul of; email wi Tim Several. bug: soruroiy rcilninul in poxiiion n: (he wheel and in (roses oi 01m; v, an will in: nm no (:rwii x nmi igoiriily re in the mm. and ermit-oil r replin if; roman oiwion. this my inzuwnm is mpn ile oil :1 great nnmy lnrarlifimlioin? in lflio form, proportion :ami construction oi the svi'nrni parts thereof on"?! i iheref filo right lo rw-iori in all Mich l nmlii ivotionza n-s may iw 'inirly c-mhorli Hm spirit and scope of H14) appended oi nimpie in nri may be VP provision lntnble Gilli? rs-o moved through a circular path' operating the drums 66 to.

disconnecting the several propellers and said operating means.

2 In a machine of the character described, a rotatable frame having side walls 5 converging from the axis to the periphery thereof, a plurality of removable inflatable gas compartments mounted in said frame, propellers arranged upon each side of said frame and below the rotative axis thereof, operating means, and driving means for the propellers connectible at will to the operating means. i l

3. In a machine of the character described, a rotatable wheel having skeleton side walls, and a plurality of inflatable com partments arranged between said side walls and independently removable therefrom.

4. In a machine of the character described, a rotatable wheel embodying. an

axis, a rim, skeleton side Walls converging from theends of the wheel axis to said rim, and a plurality of inflatable compartments arranged between said side walls and independently removable from the wheel.

5. In a machine of the character described, a series of independently inflatable compartments movable through a circular path from a common center, an elliptical propelling member rotatably mounted upon each side of said series of compartments, ad-

ditional propellers mounted for swinging movement with relation to said members and disposed contiguous thereto, means for swinging said latter propellers, driving connections between said propellers, oper a common operating means for said latter propellers, the elliptical propellers and c wheel, and means for independently co necting or disconnecting the several propel lers and the wheel. to said operating means. 50

7. In a. machine of the character de' scribed, a rotatable frame, a plurality inflatable compartments removahly mounted in said frame, elliptical side propellers .having vertical axes, a frame mounted for swinging movement upon the axis of each propeller, additional propellers and operating means therefor carried by said fram s at primary operating means for said iii a and means for connecting or disconi'iecting co said propellers and the primary operating means. a v In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM A. HUTSSIJ.

Witnesses:

M. C. LYDDANE, E. L. WHITE. 

